Device for operating switch-points.



D. V. HOOHSTETLER. DEVICE FOR OPERATING SWITCH POINTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

STATES PAENT FFIC.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING SWITCH-POINTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID V. Hoofsmir- LER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at White Cloud, in the county of Newaygo, State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Operating Switch-Points; and 1 do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for operating switchpoints from a platform of a moving car, and has for its object to soconstruct a device of this character that the motorman can operate theswitch point when the car is some distance therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide .a novel arrangement oflevers and links for swinging the switch points in advance of a movingcar.

lVith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, fornration, combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of thedevice. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of acarshowing the trip shaft carried thereby in the act of shifting the switchpoint. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is adetail perspective view of one end of one of the shifting links. Fig. 5is a perspective view of one of the trip shaft bearings. Fig. 6 is asectional view on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the main railsof the track, and 3 and 4. the rails of the switch tracks, the latterhaving pivotally connected thereto the switch point 5. Mounted betweenthe rails is a block 6, preferably formed from cement. Pivotallysupported by the block 6 is a lever 7 which is adapted to be rocked bythe moving car in a manner to be hereinafter described. A second block 8is mounted between the main rails, and at a point near the switch point5 and has pivotally connected thereto a bell crank lever 9, the arm 10of which is connected to the switch point 5 by a link 11, while the arm12 thereof is connected to the lever 7 by link 13.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2 1, 1914.

Serial No. 768,868.

Mounted adjacent the main rails 1 and 2 are spaced pins 1 1 and 15,respectively, which serve as guides for the free ends of the links 16and 17 the other ends of which are pivotally connected to the ends ofthe lever 7. The free ends of the links 16 and 17 are provided withoutwardly inclined sect1ons 18 and 19, respectively, said sections beingadapted for movement between their respective guide pins 14 and 15 sothat sections 18 and 19, respectively, said sections, when pressure isbrought to bear thereagainst by the trip shafts 21, will force the sametoward the guide pins alternately, during which time the engaged headwill during its forward movement also move laterally, thereby permittingthe trip shaft engaged th rewith to disengage the same.

Both platforms of the car 22 are provided with a pair of spaced bearings23, which support the spring pressed trip shafts 21, hereinbeforementioned.

Any suitable covering may be placed over the operative parts of thedevice to protect the same from rain, sleet or snow.

From this construction it will be seen that when it is desired to shiftthe switch point 5 so that. the car can pass upon the switch rails 3 and4, it is only necessary for the motorman to force the trip shaft 21which is mounted upon the right hand side of the platform so that thelower end thereof will contact with the head 20 carried by the inclinedsection 18 of the link 16, whereupon further movement of the carforwardly will cause said link to rock the lever 7 until the trip pindisengages the head, which is readily accomplished owing to the lateralmovement imparted to the section 18 by the guide pins 14, whichoperation causes the link 13 to move, thus shifting the bell crank leverso that the switch point 5 is swung in contact with the main rail 2through the medium of the link 11. It is obvious that a following car tocontinue on the main track will require the operation of the link 17,which will reverse the movement of the device so that the switch point 5will be shifted from contact with the rail 2.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a switch point, of a bellcrank lever, a link connecting the lever and switch point, a leverpivotally connected to the bell crank by a link, guide pins, linkshaving one of their ends connected to the opposite ends of the lever,and their other ends operating between the guide pins, and means carriedby a car for alternately engaging the last named links to shift thelever and bell crank lever, and thus the switch point.

2. In combination with the main rails and the switch rails, of a switchpoint pivotally connected to one of the switch rails, a lever pivotallymounted between the main rails, a hell crank lever mounted between therails and adjacent the switch point, links pivotally connecting thelever and hell crank and the bell crank and switch point, spaced guidepins mounted adjacent the main rails, links having one of their endspivotally connected to the outer ends of said lever and their other endsprovided with inclined sections terminating in lateral heads, and meanscarried by a car for alternately engaging said heads to force the sameforwardly and laterally, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID V. HOGHSTETLER. IVitnesses 2 LOUIS IV. FULLER, WALTER FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

